Skin Safety: 4 Tips for Protecting Your Family this Summer

Summer is coming in hot. Pun intended. Whether you’re spending these months building castles in the sand or cheering on from the little league stands, you’re going to want to make sure that your family has the best sun protection available. These long hazy days are meant for BBQs on the lake and 4th of July fireworks, not sunburns and lobster cheeks.

Try a Stronger SPF

Finding the perfect sunscreen can be difficult. You stare at the drugstore shelves and succumb to indecisiveness as every bottle screams its own promises. Who to believe? Who to trust?

The key is understanding the SPF value. The SPF rating is the strength in which the product inhibits harmful UVB rays from penetrating your skin. In short, the stronger the UVB rays beating overhead, the higher value SPF you need to use. Unfortunately, these sunrays are invisible to the eye and, even if the sun isn’t out, they can still cut through the clouds.

Today, it shouldn’t be a surprise that we now have resources to measure the strength of the sun. These applications will provide you with a UV strength forecast so you know what you’re up against. This is especially important if you’re holidaying somewhere new, as the sun functions differently in different regions. There are also new intuitive inventions that can give a detailed view of your skin in the case it ever gets damaged. This way, you’ll be able to take preventative measures and go to a doctor if needed.

Try a Mineral Based Sunscreen

Unfortunately, most top-tier sunscreen brands are made with inorganic and toxic compounds. With prolonged use, these chemicals seep into the skin, enter the bloodstream, and cause a host of health problems. While not commonly talked about, the ramifications of using these products can be ugly.
In which case, it’s time to go natural. Use a mineral powder sunscreen that is both effective in protecting your skin and healthy for you too. Being that you have a family, this is all the more important for your children, who are more susceptible to the toxins in major sunscreen brands. We must do everything we can to protect and preserve our skin, especially for the little ones.

Try a Rash Vest

Summer is here and now your child is an amphibian who no longer believes in land. Snorkeling, swimming, shooting water torpedoes under water, surfing, bodysurfing and more, every hour of the day seems to be packed with a new watersport. Here’s something to remember: all water-resistant sunscreens wash off. The quality of the product lies in how long it takes for that to happen.

Instead, a waterproof rash vest is the perfect solution if your family members are going to be spending a ton of time in the water. Many of these are SPF 50+ (higher than most sunscreens) and are designed to be comfortable. And, outside of the obvious benefits, they’re designed to regulate body temperature too.

Try UV Protective Sunglasses

Perhaps your family isn’t a beachy one. Be it tennis, baseball, or whatever your family activity of choice is, make sure everyone has appropriate eyewear to keep them safe from UVB rays. Buying some stylish, well-fitted children’s sunglasses will have your kids looking great and staying protected from the sun.I Followed the Tips, Sunburn Still Happened

At the end of the day, even the most sun-savvy families experience the relentless nature of the sun. In which case, there’s another layer of preparation: preparing for the worst. If a sunburn is to occur, then:

Act Quickly – you need to act as quickly as possible after a sunburn. Be sure to jump in a cold or lukewarm body of water to reduce body temperature. This can also be as simple taking a cold shower.

Drink Fluids – if someone experiences sunburn, they need to hydrate as much as possible. Sunburns naturally draw fluid to the skin’s surface, meaning you’ll need to replenish your water store.

Moisturizer – try to find a natural moisturizer that contains aloe vera, as it’ll help with the irritation and soothe the burnt skin.

Don’t go back in the sun – this should be obvious, but the skin needs to heal. If it blisters, let it do so. Whatever you do, don’t go back in the sun.

The Bottom Line

For a child, summer is the epitome of happiness. As we age, that very happiness becomes a nostalgia. It’s a magical time, where the memories created live on forever. But it’s also a time where we’re most susceptible to the sun’s powerful UV A and UV B rays. And, as research has presented, we know what happens when someone neglects to wear sunscreen throughout their life. Remember, safe fun is the best fun.